Aretha Franklin has spoken out to silence rumors a rift with Whitney Houston’s mother was to blame for her absence from the tragic star’s funeral over the weekend. The veteran singer was due to sing …

Aretha Franklin In Concert

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Aretha Franklin has spoken out to silence rumors a rift with Whitney Houston’s mother was to blame for her absence from the tragic star’s funeral over the weekend.

The veteran singer was due to sing at Houston’s star-studded memorial service in New Jersey on Saturday, but she cancelled her appearance after suffering foot and leg problems.

She went on to perform at the Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan later that evening, and paid tribute to her late friend during the show.

Online speculation suggested Franklin’s pre-taped interview on the “Today” show, which aired the day before the funeral, had upset Houston’s mom, Cissy, and that she had been told to stay away from the memorial in New Jersey.

In the interview, Franklin seemingly spoke of Houston’s issues and upbringing, saying, “Parents have to really talk to their children before they leave home. They have to make sure when they leave home, they have all the right things. She left home with all the right things, but she just kind of lost her way along the way.”

However, the Queen of Soul insists she was making a general comment and there are no issues between her and the Houston family.

In a statement, she says, “Cissy Houston and I have been longtime friends for almost 50 years. I have four invitations and parking passes that were sent to me for the funeral …

“Cissy does not need ridiculous speculation and neither do I, particularly at this time. Also, with respect to the ‘Today’ show, my entire statement was pre-taped. However, the ‘Today’ show did not air the part of my statement, which said, ‘This is no reflection on Cissy or (Houston’s nickname) Nippy’s upbringing.’

“Knowing Cissy as well as I do, I know Whitney left home right and properly. I was generalizing and it was a well-intended statement for any young adult coming into the music industry. I was not speaking of anyone specifically.”

Aretha Franklin has penned an open letter to fans of her goddaughter Whitney Houston, urging them to “remember the hits” and “forget the misses.”

The “I Will Always Love You” superstar died in Los Angeles last Saturday, and Franklin was among the celebrities expressing her shock at the “stunning and unbelievable” news within hours of Houston’s passing.

Now the Queen of Soul has recalled her fondest memories of the singer in a touching tribute for People magazine.

In the piece, Franklin remembers meeting a young Houston for the first time when her mother Cissy brought her along to one of the Respect hit maker’s recording sessions.

She writes, “I thought, ‘What a cute, darling little red-headed girl!’ From then on, I watched her growth and development as an artist. It became apparent that she was the signaling of a younger generation coming in and a role model for many young vocal aspirants – a rose who came into full bloom.

“It wasn’t just the hits: Whitney knew how to be a star, and she was one of the brightest stars in the universe.”

But Franklin believes Houston’s phenomenal success was “perhaps too much, too soon,” and her struggle to deal with her fame resulted in a much-publicized battle with drugs, which wreaked havoc on her vocal cords and her reputation in the spotlight.

However, Franklin is encouraging real fans to look past Houston’s troubles and remember her for the “talented artist” she was.

She continues, “Let us all applaud and remember Whitney for the beautiful, giving and caring young lady and talented artist she was, the great music and performances. Remember the hits. Forget the misses. A true superstar has gone on, flown away on the wings of love.”

Signing off the letter as “Aunt Ree”, Franklin adds, “Keep her family in your prayers.”

The veteran singer is reportedly set to perform at Houston’s funeral in Newark, New Jersey, on Saturday as mourners pay their last respects.

Singer Aretha Franklin has called off her engagement to William Wilkerson – just three weeks after announcing her intention to wed her longtime friend later this year.

The “Respect” hitmaker kicked off the New Year by confirming reports she was due to exchange vows with her “forever friend” Wilkerson this summer – and she appeared to be hard at work planning the nuptials, recently gushing about her ideal wedding gown designers.

However, the singer has now changed her mind about walking down the aisle again.

In a joint statement, Franklin and Wilkerson add: “Regretfully, To Our Friends and Supporters: Will and I have decided we were moving a little too fast, and there were a number of things that had not been thought through thoroughly. There will be no wedding at this time. We will not comment on it any further because of the very personal and sensitive nature of it. We appreciate all of the many well wishes from friends. Aretha & Will”.

It was not immediately clear if the pair plans to remain a couple.

This would have been the Queen of Soul’s third marriage – she was wed to Ted White for eight years before the two divorced in 1969, and she ended her six-year marriage to actor Glynn Turman in 1984.

Aretha Franklin is to wed longtime friend William Wilkerson this summer.

The singer released a statement to the Associated Press on Monday announcing the news, revealing the couple is planning to exchange vows in Miami Beach, Fla., and celebrate its nuptials with friends and family during a reception on a private yacht.

This will be the Queen of Soul’s third marriage – she was married to Ted White for eight years before the two divorced in 1969, and she ended her six-year marriage to actor Glynn Turman in 1984.

Joking about her sudden motivation to wed again, she stated: “No, I’m not pregnant.”

247Paps.tv/WENN.com Legendary soul star Aretha Franklin used her vocal talents to sing her way out of a parking ticket on Monday after spotting a New York traffic cop hovering near her car. The Queen …

Legendary soul star Aretha Franklin used her vocal talents to sing her way out of a parking ticket on Monday after spotting a New York traffic cop hovering near her car.

The Queen of Soul had just finished dining with her entourage at a barbecue restaurant in Manhattan’s Upper East Side when she serenaded the officer to avoid receiving a fine for one of her party’s illegally parked vehicles.

And Franklin’s cheeky trick worked — she escaped the penalty after agreeing to sign an autograph for the cop, according to the New York Post’s Page Six column.

Legendary singer Aretha Franklin has laughed off reports she underwent gastric bypass surgery in December, insisting the rumors about her mystery operation are “crazy”. The “Queen of Soul” has refused …

Legendary singer Aretha Franklin has laughed off reports she underwent gastric bypass surgery in December, insisting the rumors about her mystery operation are “crazy”.

The “Queen of Soul” has refused to divulge details about the health crisis that saw her hospitalized last year, forcing her to axe a series of concerts.

She denied claims she was being treated for pancreatic cancer, and now Franklin has dismissed the latest speculation surrounding her welfare after shedding 85 pounds of body fat.

In an interview with “Access Hollywood,” Franklin scoffs at the suggestion, saying, “Definitely not – and would not. I heard that (rumor). I said, ‘That is crazy.’”

The superstar remains mum about the specific procedure, only revealing the weight loss is linked, admitting the excess pounds came off “from the surgery that I had.”

She adds, “But it definitely was not the bariatric or, what is it, gastric by… Yeah, I can’t even tell you the correct name of it. It’s really not necessary to talk about one’s personal medical (health).”

Franklin recently told talk show host Wendy Williams she knew it was time to do something about her weight gain after realizing she was “too fat for words.”

AP Photo/The Wendy Williams Show, Sarah Rice Legendary singer Aretha Franklin was so disgusted with her weight gain she took on a strict diet in 2010 and lost 85 pounds. The singer showed off a …

AP Photo/The Wendy Williams Show, Sarah Rice

Legendary singer Aretha Franklin was so disgusted with her weight gain she took on a strict diet in 2010 and lost 85 pounds.

The singer showed off a noticeably slimmer figure when she appeared via video link at last month’s Grammy Awards, two months after undergoing surgery to fix a mystery health problem.

Franklin revealed she shed the bulk by cutting out junk food, her beloved fatty pork products and adopting a healthier lifestyle.

The singer admits she was inspired to do something about her ballooning figure after realizing she was “too fat for words”.

She tells Wendy Williams, “I’ve been looking at a lot of pictures … and I was saying (to myself), ‘You were entirely too fat for words!’

“I’m getting close to my normal weight now, I’m only a dress size away now. I was doing everything you could do to lose that weight and it’s hard, really hard, when you love food. … Altogether, it was about 85 pounds. It was gradual.”

But Franklin admits the toughest part about the weight-loss was cutting out the calories late at night after shows: “After you’ve done a high-energy concert, a carrot isn’t gonna work!”

AP Photo/Ron EdmondsAretha Franklin performs at the swearing-in ceremony of President Barack Obama in 2009. Aretha Franklin was baffled to hear the media attribute her recent health crisis to …

AP Photo/Ron Edmonds

Aretha Franklin performs at the swearing-in ceremony of President Barack Obama in 2009.

Aretha Franklin was baffled to hear the media attribute her recent health crisis to pancreatic cancer, insisting she has no idea where that rumor came from.

The Queen of Soul, 68, canceled a string of end-of-year concerts last month on the advice of her doctors after she was struggling with a mystery illness.

She was subsequently hospitalized and forced to undergo surgery, amid claims she had been diagnosed with the deadly disease, with unidentified family sources appearing to confirm the news.

Franklin has since spoken out about her health problems to assure fans she is recovering well from the operation, but she has repeatedly refused to divulge details about what ailed her.

However, the singer wants to clear up the false cancer reports, revealing only that she sought medical help after experiencing a pain in her side that “was so hard it almost brought me to my knees.”

She tells “Access Hollywood,” “I don’t know where ‘pancreatic cancer’ came from. I was sitting there reading the newspaper and it was saying someone in my family said that. No one in my family ever said that to anybody.”

The star claims the successful surgery has added at least 15 years to her life, according to her doctor, and there is one particular high-profile fan who has been cheering her on throughout her recovery — U.S. president Barack Obama.

She says, “I got a wonderful and beautiful letter from the President. And nobody does it like him!”

Jeff Fusco/Getty Images Aretha Franklin has spoken out about her recent health crisis, insisting “the problem has been resolved.” The soul star was forced to pull out of a series of end-of-year shows …

Aretha Franklin has spoken out about her recent health crisis, insisting “the problem has been resolved.”

The soul star was forced to pull out of a series of end-of-year shows in 2010 after falling ill, with many outlets reporting she had been diagnosed with deadly pancreatic cancer.

The 68 year old “R.E.S.P.E.C.T” singer is refusing to go into details about what was wrong – but insists she’s fine now.

She tells JET magazine, “I don’t have to talk about my health with anybody other than my doctors (but) the problem has been resolved.

“I am not one to do a lot of talking about my personal health or business. There are a lot of people who will talk about anything, as long as there is somebody listening. That’s not Aretha.”

But the singer has revealed her problems started after she experienced a pain in her side during a concert in Toronto, Canada.

She tells the publication her doctor advised her to have a CAT-scan.

Franklin adds, “Thank God he said that because that unfolded everything, what the problem was and everything.

“If there is anything happening with you that is uncommon and something that you know should not be happening, go to your doctor. Be determined to find out what is going on.”

And she’ll be forever grateful to friends and fans who wished her well as she was fighting to get well: “I want to thank my fans and friends and supporters who have prayed for me and sent me beautiful cards and flowers.”